Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has
directed the Office of the Public Defender
(OPD) to sue the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) for “illegally arresting”
eight residents of Ejigbo, whose wells were
polluted by petrol spillage.
Eight residents of No.17 and 30, Aminatu Ilo
Street, were arrested last week by NSCDC
officials for allegedly digging their wells to the
level of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) pipelines to steal petrol.
OPD Director Mrs. Omotola Rotimi said owners
of the wells claimed that they reported at the
Ejigbo Police Station when they noticed petrol
coming out of their wells.
They claimed the police took them to NNPC to
report the spillage, adding that NNPC officials
took samples from the wells before sealing
them, with a promise to return on August 26.
Mrs. Rotimi said the residents were waiting for
NNPC to address the problem when NSCDC
officials stormed the place and arrested eight
people, including an expectant mother.
She said Fashola and former Governor Bola
Tinubu had written the Federal Government in
the past to replace the pipelines to protect
Ejigbo residents.
Mrs. Rotimi said: “Despite these letters,
nothing was done by NNPC or the Federal
Government to alleviate the difficulties faced
by the residents due to spillage. It would have
been more appropriate for NSCDC to
investigate the issue, instead of arresting,
detaining, dehumanising and criminalising
eight people, including an expectant mother.
“This is against jurisprudence and human rights
justice. These people are the victims, whose
homes, livestock and crops have been
destroyed due to the pollution of their wells
and environment. Their health is also at risk.
“They should be the one heading to the court
to enforce and exercise their fundamental
rights, including claiming damages, rather than
a law enforcement agency harassing them.”
0 100000:
Post a Comment